A new study published in Spinal Deformity examined the clinical improvement for adult spinal deformity and which patients benefit most from surgical intervention.
The researchers examined 223 patients with adult spinal disorders. The researchers found:
1. The worst scores for 77 percent of the patients at baseline were the activity or pain scores. The distribution was 36 percent reporting "worst," 19 percent "poor" and 17 percent "moderate" at baseline.
2. The patients who reported sagittal malalignment in 54 percent of the patients were more likely in the "worst" state.
3. Overall, there were 24 percent of the patients who reported no improvement or deterioration; 17 percent had mediocre improvement and 25 percent were satisfactory. Only 33 percent reported optimal improvement.
4. Nearly half, 41 percent, reported baseline "moderate" patients achieved no improvement.
5. Among the worst baseline patients, 20 percent reported no improvement; 36 percent reported "satisfactory" improvement and 19 percent reported "optimal" improvement.